Wednesday, November 13, 2013

PoetryIsMusicIsPoetry this Sunday November 17, 2013

PoetryIsMusicIsPoetry is part of the series of events marking the 15th edition of the Lagos Book & Art Festival. It will explore the relationship between poetry and music, through performance.You will meet the finest ensemble of poets, who will make words sing, and musicians, who will employ language and tell stories over instrumentals.

Considered by many as Nigeria's premier spoken word poet, Sage has featured in over 400 events, both small and big, across the country. He has done about a 100 brand poems written specifically for certain organisations and products including MTN, Coca Cola, Harp, Satzenbrau, Gulder, and Unilever. He has performed at different shows including Hip Hop World Awards in 2006 and 2010, Big Brother Nigeria, Arts Alive in South Africa. Sage has recorded and released two spoken word poetry albums and written a book, Dream Maker, a fable that combines prose and poetry to interrogate the prevailing notions of success and fulfillment.

Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s leading spoken word poets, Efe Paul has been a headline performer at many of the nation’s premier performance poetry venues. Efe Paul is known for holding audiences spell-bound with his cutting edge socio-economic commentary. His collection of poetry, When the Revolution Spoke, is due out in 2014.

Wana Wana as she is popular called is a broadcaster,blogger, writer, poet, culture fanatic, 40/50s pin up obsessed, chiffon lover and truth seeker. Her audio collection of poetry, Dirty Laundry is due out in 2013.

Titilope Sonuga

A Nigerian born poet, performer and Civil Engineer. She was the winner of the 2011 Canadian Authors Association Emerging Writer Award for her first collection of poetry, Down To Earth, as well as the 2013 RISE Award in Edmonton, Alberta.

The duality of her African and Canadian upbringing is clear in her distinct form of storytelling. She is actively involved in the Canadian literary community and has served on boards for Spoken Word Canada and the Edmonton Poetry Festival. Her stories have been told on stages across Canada and internationally.

Iquo Eke

Iquo is a Writer, Performance poet and Actress who renders her words to the accompaniment of folklore, typically embellished with instruments such as drums, flute and /or strings. Her maiden collection of poems; Symphony of Becoming, brings reflections to light, as it unearths memory and messages in an imagery laden broth, and was longlisted for the NLNG Prize for Literature.

Poet, writer and lawyer, Donna is arguably the most compelling voice in Lagos' intense performance poetry circuit today. Her spell-binding performances, exploring themes that cut to the heart, keep her various audiences on the edge of their seats and earn her standing ovations.

Ivori refers to himself as the 'African masquerade poet, who hails from our sub-colonial repressions.' “He huffs and puffs in 'their' language but never uses their words.” He gives his profile in a short tale: When I was 15 years old, I visited My grandparents in the village on summer holidays. On the fourth night as I slept, strange men bundled me and carried me outside in the dead of the night from the hut in which I slept. I was ferried to a place where six older men sat around a fire. Strangely, it never occurred to me to scream because it was obvious they were family, but simply didn't know how to send an invite. They took turns reciting strange words into the flickering fire, using our native dialect until it got to me. I couldn't speak a word of the language yet I opened my mouth and haven't shut it until this day.

His book, Blood and Kin, a Sci-Fi novel, will be hitting the book stands in 2013.

Musicians

Ese Peters

Ese Peters is a unique and original musical talent who has developed a dedicated following over the years. Ese Peters has enjoyed critical and commercial success since embarking upon his solo career in 2010: his previously released singles - “Gone (Wetin I Go Do?)”, “Stay With Me” and “Walk Away” - were all well-received by the public, as was his 2011 independent release The Acoustic EP. A gifted songwriter, a brilliant producer, talented composer and an accomplished, self-taught guitarist, Ese - who counts rock acts The Goo Goo Dolls, U2 and especially, John Mayer among his influences - considers himself a romantic storyteller and sees his music as the perfect medium for conveying his narratives to his audience and also coping with an uncertain world.

Etcetera

2009 Headies winner for Recording of the Year, Etcetera, an alternative rock musician and poet, is a respected voice in the Nigerian music industry. He has two successful a,bums to his credit and has performed alongside, Boyz 2 Men and Joe.

Dtone Martins

From Rhythm Unplugged to MTN Campus Jam; from Black Heritage Festival to Felabration; from the Hanger Lane Exhibition to Coca-Cola Road to the 2010 World Cup (the list is endless), DTone Martins has left a trail of adoring fans in his wake. Dtone is known for his fusion of traditional folklore and seductive melodies. His singles, “Sunkun Ife” and “Ife Gbagbara” continue to resonate within the Nigerian art and culture circuit.

Evaezi

Few Nigerian musicians possess Evaezi's combination of voice, lyricism and stage craft. Her singles the Break Up Song, Think of Me and Tirinrin have been well received, earning her several nominations including, Best Female Vocal Performance (HipHop World Awards 2010) Best Soul/ Neo Soul Act of the Year (Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2010), Most Promising Act To Watch (Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2010) among others. Her songs plunge the depths of love, loss and sensuality, telling stories of the heart like only she can.

Aduke

Aduke needs very little introduction. We gladly welcomed her into our consciousness in 2011 when her debut single, Made in Lagos hit the airwaves. She further staked her claim in Nigeria's expanding musical landscape in early 2012, when she released her second single and video, Hear the Voice, daringly shot in the midst of the January #OccupyNigeria 2012 protests.

Host: Tope Sadiq, convener, FreedomHall

Produced by Efe Paul Azino and Samuel Osaze

Gate: FREE

“Poetry is the music of the soul, and, above all, of great and feeling souls.” - Voltaire